As we start to deal with the students who disrupted a public appearance on campus yesterday, we need to remind all members of the community of our University’s current guidelines on demonstrations: “The New School is committed to freedom of speech, thought, inquiry and artistic expression for all members of its community. It is equally committed to protecting the right of free speech of all individuals authorized to use its facilities or participate in educational activities.”

It is a principle of the University that “Faculty members, administrators, staff members, students and guests are obligated to reflect in their actions a respect for the right of all individuals to speak their views freely and be heard. They must refrain from any action which causes that right to be abridged.” For example, it would violate these guidelines to engage in disruptive behavior that forced a lecturer to stop lecturing to students.

Acts that subvert the principle of free speech subvert one of the core principles of our community – we, as leaders of this community, strongly condemn any forms of protest that undermine free and open public debate.

We also feel that actions that violate the principle of free speech must be subject to a disciplinary procedure and appropriate sanctions.